Mareikura Waka Ama Club members, past and present, will gather on Saturday 6 December to celebrate the opening of the club’s new waka storage facility at Anzac Park.
A dawn karakia will be held at 5am, followed by a mihi whakatau at 9am. The morning will bring together generations of paddlers, whānau, guest speakers and supporters as the club marks the opening of its new facility. This milestone coincides with the club’s 40 year anniversary and recognises its place as the country’s oldest waka ama club.
Since its establishment in 1985, the club has stored its waka outdoors, leaving them exposed to the weather and vulnerable to vandalism. The new facility will give Mareikura a safe, purpose-built space for its fleet, protecting the waka for future paddlers.
Trust Tairāwhiti supported the project with $1.3m in funding as one of the early win initiatives identified in the Tairāwhiti Sports Facilities Business Case. Additional funding was provided by Lottery Community Facilities and the Eastern Central Community Trust. Mareikura also contributed $20k from their own fundraising efforts.